OpenCart review
Updated September 28, 2026 · ForgeCue Editorial Team · Facts checked September 26, 2026
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Our verdict
OpenCart suits small businesses that want to run their own storefront, and beginners who want to try a shop before paying. Entry pricing is $14.95, above the €13.15 typical of e-commerce platforms here, and mid-table at 129 out of 199 on entry price.
Key facts
- Best for
- Small businesses that want a store on a free plan rather than a paid subscription.
- Price from
- $14.95 (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Free plan
- Yes (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- E-commerce plan price
- $14.95 (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Builder type
- Store (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Legal entity
- OpenCart Limited (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Headquarters
- Hong Kong (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Founded
- 2005 (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Support channels
- Email, Phone, Help-centre, Community (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Audience
- Beginners, Small business, Enterprise
- Pricing model
- Free plan
- Official website
- opencart.com
Apps and profiles
Pros and cons
Pros
- A free plan is included, so a first shop can be set up and tested without a subscription.
- It is a store builder, so the product aims at selling rather than general site building.
- Support reaches you on email, phone and help centre, covering written, phone and community help.
Cons
- At $14.95, OpenCart sits above the €13.15 median for e-commerce platforms here, and above Ko-fi at $12.
- Its e-commerce plan price of $14.95 ranks 74 out of 160, so the entry figure is unremarkable rather than cheap.
Ready to try OpenCart?
Scored 9.5 / 10 by ForgeCue.
Who it suits
- Small businesses wanting a storefront offered on a free plan instead of a paid subscription.
- Beginners who want to test whether a shop fits before committing to a paid platform.
- Teams that want several ways to get help, since support runs on email, phone and help centre.
Who should look elsewhere
- Shopify buyers who prefer a different store platform and can start at $39.
- ClickFunnels buyers, whose plans start at $97.
- Ko-fi buyers chasing the lowest entry price, since Ko-fi starts at $12.
Who runs it
OpenCart is run by OpenCart Limited, registered in Hong Kong, and has been building stores since 2005. Support runs on email, phone and help centre, so help comes by email, by phone, through a help centre and from the community rather than a single channel.
How OpenCart compares
9.5 vs 9.2
9.5 vs 9.2- 9.5 vs 9.1
- 9.5 vs 9.3
9.5 vs 8.6- 9.5 vs 9.4
- 9.5 vs 9.2
9.5 vs 9.2- 9.5 vs 9.1
- 9.5 vs 9.2
- 9.5 vs 9.1
9.5 vs 8.7
9.5 vs 9.1
9.5 vs 9.3
9.5 vs 9.5
9.5 vs 9.4
9.5 vs 9.4
9.5 vs 9.3- 9.5 vs 9.3
9.5 vs 9.2
9.5 vs 9.2
9.5 vs 9.1
9.5 vs 9.0
Frequently asked questions
What does OpenCart cost to start?+
OpenCart offers a free plan, so a first store can go live without a subscription. Where a price is listed, entry is $14.95 and the e-commerce plan price is $14.95. That sits above the €13.15 median across e-commerce platforms here.
Is there a free plan for a new store?+
Yes. Free plan is listed as available, and the pricing model is free plan. Beginners can set up a catalogue and products before moving to any paid arrangement, which suits teams still comparing platforms.
Who do I contact for help?+
Support runs on email, phone and help centre, which means email, phone, a help centre and the community. That mix suits a small team that wants written answers in the help centre but can pick up the phone when a store problem cannot wait.
Is OpenCart only for beginners?+
No. The listed audience is beginners, small business and enterprise, so it covers beginners, small-business and enterprise teams alike. Small-business is the strongest fit, and stores that need only a catalogue rather than a wider site suite are the clearest match.
How does OpenCart compare with Shopify on price?+
OpenCart lists a free plan, and its entry price is $14.95. Shopify starts at $39, so the paid comparison is clear, while Ko-fi begins at $12 and ClickFunnels at $97, the highest of that set.
Who is behind OpenCart and where is it based?+
OpenCart is run by OpenCart Limited, based in Hong Kong, and has been in the store-building business since 2005. The legal entity and its base are the details to check first if a paid arrangement or contract is on the table.
Where does OpenCart rank on price?+
Its e-commerce plan price of $14.95 ranks 74 out of 160 brands, and the entry price ranks 129 out of 199, which puts it mid-field. The cost score here is 7.6.
Sources
- opencart.com checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Audience, Builder type, Free plan, Pricing model
“From corporations to local businesses”
- opencart.com/index.php checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Founded
“Registered domain name opencart.com - November 2005”
- opencart.com/index.php checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Headquarters, Legal entity, Support channels
“Tuen Mun, Hong Kong”
- scalahosting.com/opencart-hosting.html checked September 26, 2026
Backs: E-commerce plan price, Price from
“Starting From $14.95/mo.”
Compiled from 4 source pages, checked September 26, 2026. We did not open an account.
Not confirmed yet: Transaction fee.
Related by the facts
OpenCart
Small businesses that want a store on a free plan rather than a paid subscription.